These are the thoughts and observations of me — a woman of a certain age. (Oh, my, God, I'm 60!) I'm single. I'm successful enough (independent, self supporting). I live in the burbs and work in the city (Chicago, the best city in the world). I'm an aunt, a friend and a colleague. I feel that voices like mine are rather underrepresented online or in print. So here I am. If my musings resonate with you, please visit my blog again sometime.

Saturday 9

2) The lyrics mention "a breath of spring" and robins singing. Now that we're deep into winter, what do you miss about spring? Baseball

3)
Though the world knew her as Judy Garland, this week's featured artist
was born Frances Gumm and her family called her "Baby." Does your family
have any pet names for you? My father and grandfather each had a nickname for me, but they're both gone now.

4)
Because she was petite -- just 4'11 -- it was obvious when Garland
gained even a few pounds and consequently she battled her weight her
whole life. Now that we're in the new year, have you made any
resolutions about your own diet? I'd love to lose weight but mostly I'm trying to eat healthier.

5) The year this song came out, 1939, was the year Garland's most famous movie, The Wizard of Oz, was released. Which of her three traveling companions is your favorite: Scarecrow, Tin Man or Cowardly Lion? Scarecrow. Totally. "I could while away the hours, conferring with the flowers, consulting with the rain. My head I'd be scratching while my thoughts are busy hatching if I only had a brain."

6)
Barry Manilow enjoyed Judy's performance of this song so much he did a
"dream duet" with her and included it in his recent CD. What performer
who is no longer with us do you wish you could have seen in concert? Garland. Elvis. Frank. All good choices. But the first one that came to mind was Amy, Amy, Amy.

7) Judy had a terrible problem with tardiness. Are you usually prompt? Usually. I depend on public transportation and it waits for no man.

8)
During World War II, Judy worked tirelessly to entertain the troops.
Tell us about a cause that's near and dear to your heart. My local food pantry. On Monday I'm taking a bag of canned goods and pasta over there. That people are going hungry right here in my neighborhood is a sobering thought, and this winter, when the schools closed for the frigid weather, so many parents had to take off work without pay and the kids missed their free school lunches.

9)
The American Film Institute lists Garland as the 8th greatest movie
star of all time. Who is your all time favorite actor or actress? Certainly Garland would be one of them. She was always so genuine onscreen. With time I have come to appreciate Elizabeth Taylor more as an actress, too. But if I could only choose one, I'd have to go with The Great Kate. Hepburn was more than an actress, she was a force of nature. The AFI agrees with me. Here's their list.

ooh! i forgot about baseball! that is the best part of spring. that's a good idea about the local food bank. a third of my kids come from the homeless shelter and for some of them, i think school breakfast and lunch are the only meals they get. it's wonderful people think of them when school's not in session. thanks!

I agree with CountryDew. It is a crime that children, urban and rural, go hungry, and their parents, too, when so much food is going into the landfills. What is the matter with Washington, DC? Are they blind and deaf?

The Scarecrow is my favorite, too! I was always puzzled about, if he didn't have a brain, how was he walking and talking??? As for children going hungry, it is definitely sad. Whenever I've worked in schools, there have always been certain kids that we pilfered extra food and bagged lunches from the cafeteria for, to take home in their backpacks for dinner. For a parent, it must be terrifying to not be able to feed your child!